BRANDON COUNTRY PARK

Thetford

We advise you to read this information carefully in advance of Race Day so that you can enjoy the event as much as possible. The Venue Address: Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0SU PARKING We discounted the entry by £2 on this race to help with the parking fees. We have been allocated the Orchard Car Park for our parking. We will have a marshal assisting with your parking but please look out for the sign below. It is a Pay and Display car park. We suggest car sharing where possible. Charges are as follows: • Up to 2 hours £2.00 • Over 2 hours £3.00 From the car park you should be able to see the event flags and starting area. We will be based out of the Engine House. Race Registration will be from the Engine House. Please collect your race bibs from this location. You will be asked your name and will be asked to confirm your intended race distance. The race briefing will start at 8:50am. What will happen when you arrive: Do not arrive to park until around 8am. We will have a marshal to help direct you to the parking area. They will be in position until 8:45am. Please allow time to get to the race registration to collect your race bib, and safety pins (if required). Please ensure your bib is VISABLE and do not bend it as it could affect the chip timing of your laps. Please congregate in the courtyard near the start at 8:50am ready for the race briefing. You will then be called forward to start the race. Please ensure you bring along a bottle or cup for refilling each lap. We will not be providing cups. Start Times We want to start sending people out from 9:00am prompt, so we expect you all to be ready to run from 9:00am latest. There will be a mass start. The Start Zone There will be Zig Zag Flags and gazebos showing the start corral area. We do not want the chips to be read in the start zone so the race brief will be adjacent to the start zone area. The Venue – Engine House We have hired this facility for use of the toilets, for providing baggage storage and for you to enjoy your, tea/coffee and cakes when you finish. Zig Zag Running Gear We will have a stall selling our Zig Zag Running Merchandise. Merchandise can be paid for via our card or cash on the day. Please note you can also order now for collection on race day. Zig Zag Hexoflage T-Shirts & Vests – NOW REDUCED TO £15 each…. Grab yourself a bargain! Also available Scimitar T-shirts (whilst stocks last), £30 each Neck Buffs - £6 each or 2 for £10 Arm Sleeves, £12 a pair or 2 sets for £20 We will also have a display of our future medals (where available). The Course The race starts at 9:00am. On this occasion we will be running the course in the clockwise direction, turning left when leaving the start. The loop is approximately 5.3k. Please note this is a trail event with grass, track, tree roots and possibly free mud (weather dependent). We believe that road shoes would be suitable but feel free to leave trail shoes at base camp if required. On arrival back to the start you will need to loop across the chip timing mat and continue this process until you have reached the number of laps you wish to complete. At the start line there will be an aid station with water, squash and nibbles. ***please note we have gone bottle less so would kindly request you bring your own cups/bottles for refilling each lap***. We are trying to reduce the amount of plastic waste. Whilst out on course, we would ask that you run to the left-hand side of the path that you are on, giving any faster runners the opportunity to overtake on your righthand side. Please also make sure that consideration is given to any members of the public who will be also using the park. Baggage We will have space in the Engine House for you to leave your baggage at this event should you need to. (At your own risk). However, you will also pass the car park on every lap. Water/Aid Station At the start line we will have water, squash, and a selection of nibbles for you to help yourselves. ***please note our events have now gone cup less so you will need to bring your own cup or bottle to refill each lap*** You may leave your own items on the dedicated table, but you should ensure these are labelled. Rubbish We will have some rubbish sacks dotted around the course. Our marshals will have a refuse bag with them, so we ask that you do not throw any rubbish but give it to the next marshal you see or keep hold of it until you reach one of the bags or directional signs on the route. The Park also has numerous litter bins to be used. Toilets The toilets are in both the Engine House and are located behind the Café (the café however is not on the route). Please be mindful of social distancing protocols if queuing to use these. Course Records As it is our first event at this venue, ALL records will be up for grabs. The Medals The medals will be ready and waiting for when you have finished. They will be at the aid station. Please ensure you select the medal relevant to the distance you have covered. Each medal will be labelled with a distance buckle accordingly When you have finished, please speak to a marshal as many other runners could be at the lap area and it is not always clear to identify finishers. The event medal is as follows: This event is nearly SOLD OUT. If you have entered Lucky Dip/Finisher and should you wish to upgrade on the day, then this would be an additional £5 and is subject to availability. LUCKY DIP/FINISHER medals are medals from previous events and not bespoke to the day. How to Finish At the time of sign up, you indicated the distance you were looking to achieve, and we have this recorded on our computer to assist with your counting. We want you to achieve amazing things, achieve what you wanted but we are also aware that on the day, it may not all fall into place. As this is a challenge event, there is the option to exceed or drop down the anticipated distance. You, however, will need to let us know if this is the case (on the day). **please ensure you have told us that you intend to continue if this differs/or that you are deciding to finish** You will be allowed to go out on the last lap as long as it has not exceeded 5:59:59 since you were set off. Distance markers as follows: 2 laps - 10k 4 laps - half marathon 8 laps - full marathon 9+ laps - ultra marathon. Coffee & Cake We have tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and cake available for all finishers. Who doesn’t like cake? Please head over to the coffee station when you have finished. Each event we will also have a “hot drink of the day” (whilst stocks last) so there may be something a little different to try. Results and Race Photos The race results, course records and race photos will be placed on www.zigzagrunning.co.uk within 48 hours of the race completion. What we expect from you? We have spent a lot of time making the events we hold safe and deliverable, however, we need the co-operation of all competitors to make it happen. These points are of paramount importance, and we plead with you that you comply to ensure not only for your own safety but for that of others attending the event. 1. Please be aware that some will still be looking to maintain social distancing. 2. Please use the hand sanitising stations provided. 3. Please be courteous to other runners and members of the public. 4. Listen to all instructions from the Race Director or any Marshals requests. 5. Headphones are allowed on course but please be mindful of items 3 & 4 above. 6. Please ensure all rubbish is placed in the bags provided and not littered on the course. Final Note We would like to thank you for putting your trust in Zig Zag Running to deliver a safe and enjoyable running event. We are aware that things are different to how we would all like them to be as we are in unusual times. Thank you in advance for your co-operation and help in putting on a safe but fun day. We are really looking forward to seeing you at the start line.